Removing the Wiper motor

[Wobdog]

I wanted to clean and paint behind the wiper motor, but was not sure if there was an easy way for me to remove it to clean and paint behind it. Before I did anything stupid I thought I would ask the forum. Step by step instructions , along with difficulty of project would be helpful

Mike

 

[Thomas76]

I just did this 2 weeks ago. It's not too bad.
From memory......
1. Remove wiper arms and disconnect electrics
2. Maybe pop off the drive arm from the rotating bit. Not sure if needed, but I did
3. Remove large nuts on top of paint below windshield. Entire mechanism can drop down once these are off so be careful.
There are multiple washers, bushings, and spacers in this stack so pay attention to order.
4. Roll out entire mechanism

 

[deQuincey]

I wanted to clean and paint behind the wiper motor, but was not sure if there was an easy way for me to remove it to clean and paint behind it. Before I did anything stupid I thought I would ask the forum. Step by step instructions , along with difficulty of project would be helpful

Mike

Mike, if you only need access to area behind motor you can leave the wiper structure arms in their place
The motor hangs from a plate it is bolted to it with three hex headed bolts, also multiple plastic and metal washers
In this case you must remove the drive arm,

For an extensive cleaning of the whole mechanism it is good to remove everything as Thomas pointed out, no need to remove the drive arm in that case

 

[Fritzie]

If you disconnect the little rod in the motor, you should mark the position of it. Small center point or a mark on the shaft.

 

[eriknetherlands]

If you disconnect the little rod in the motor, you should mark the position of it. Small center point or a mark on the shaft.

good tip - i did the same: the little notch on the axle points to the arm A. Arm B is also in line. This is how it functioned on my car without issue.

it's not difficult at all t remove the system. There are just 3 points: the 2 where it goes through the body with nuts + the rubber buffer where the motor rests on the body.
Once the 2 nuts are removed, and electrics disconnected, the whole system comes out.

One common failure point is the spindle on the triangle piece with the 2 ball joints and axle (Pin) that is located under the vent opening; because of the high water load, that axle is usually quite rusted inside the threaded sleeve.
rusted side (triangle) and the not-so rusted side (straight bar):

If you triangle piece is heavily rusted, a member of the german e9 forum is offering fantastically remade parts.
Warning: the while-you're-in-there risk is big here.....

 

[eriknetherlands]

I just realized it's a nice topic for a DIY thread - here ya go; it's in draft still:

Thread 'DIY - A Wiper mechanism and Motor Restoration - drafting -'

Mar 3, 2025

A few years ago I rebuild my windscreen wiper motor and associated mechanism.
Here's a few pointers for others endeavoring on the same path + a link to possibly needed spare parts.

Part of my knowledge comes from master @deQuincey who already deep dived into these components ~2010. Unfortunately Photobucket messed up the pics, so the combo of his knowledge and my new pics are the basis of the thread below.
(Links to Deq's original threads are in post #5 in this thread)

It's just my view, and I'm happy if others chime in and add or correct stuff.

Here to help & learn.

• eriknetherlands
• Replies: 12
• Forum: DIY - Do It Yourself Articles

 

[Wobdog]

I only need to move the motor to paint behind it. Can I just unscrew the 3 (marked screws) and the motor will drop down and I can slide it out? I just want to paint under it. Are the multiple washers the red circled area?

 

[Dlc]

Mike, you unscrew the three blue ones plus the one in the middle, then you can unplug and remove the motor.
The red part is a rubber stop holding the motor in place, and can be left as is.

 

[deQuincey]

I just realized it's a nice topic for a DIY thread - here ya go; it's in draft still:

Thread 'DIY - A Wiper mechanism and Motor Restoration - drafting -'

Mar 3, 2025

A few years ago I rebuild my windscreen wiper motor and associated mechanism.
Here's a few pointers for others endeavoring on the same path + a link to possibly needed spare parts.

Part of my knowledge comes from master @deQuincey who already deep dived into these components ~2010. Unfortunately Photobucket messed up the pics, so the combo of his knowledge and my new pics are the basis of the thread below.
(Links to Deq's original threads are in post #5 in this thread)

It's just my view, and I'm happy if others chime in and add or correct stuff.

Here to help & learn.

• eriknetherlands
• Replies: 12
• Forum: DIY - Do It Yourself Articles

Did this zillions years ago, documented it with tons of pics, but you will get the glory,…you xmzkpyuuu !! !;-)
P.s. well done

 

[deQuincey]

If you disconnect the little rod in the motor, you should mark the position of it. Small center point or a mark on the shaft.

Not needed, you just make it work without the drive arm and you assembly it in the farthest position, done
Anyway, it won’t hurt

 

[eriknetherlands]

Did this zillions years ago, documented it with tons of pics, but you will get the glory,…you xmzkpyuuu !! !;-)
P.s. well done

Sorry, didn't remember.
But you've been a good teacher.

I'll look it up this week and add /link where your thread is (no doubt!) more precise.

 

[deQuincey]

Thread 'Lan-mechanisms windscreen wiper mechanism renewal'

May 5, 2014

hi, some time ago i did a partial renewal of this system, only the motor, bit not the rest, so now my concern has been the mechanism

surprised to see the axis in this condition, no rust at all, amazing



i have seen these ones in terrible corroded condition



sand blast, primer and finishing...

• deQuincey
• Replies: 12
• Forum: E9 Projects and Restorations

Thread 'Lan-wiper-blade motor overhaul'

Dec 2, 2010

strange car this e9, the wiper-blade motor is laying open air, (well, yes, inside the water box, but if it rains, it gets wet)

the problem in my case is that in top speed of this motor, you can feel the supreme effort of moving the blades as if the world has came to an end

so a second hand younger 1974´s motor is here to help, but first, some cleaning and new grease

start

gasoline to clean it

clean...

• deQuincey
• Replies: 10
• Forum: E9 Projects and Restorations

• 

 

[Wobdog]

I only need to move the motor to paint behind it. Can I just unscrew the 3 (marked screws) and the motor will drop down and I can slide it out? I just want to paint under it. Are the multiple washers the red circled area?

Was SUPER easy to remove. THANK YOU. The advice about watching for the washers was spot on! Learning to take pictures and lable everything. By the time I get around to putting things back together my memory seems to be not as good as it used to be.